What does it take to get into an M7 or magnificent 7 enterprise faculty? Annually our workforce at MBA Crystal Ball helps a choose few candidates construct their profile for GMAT GRE MBA applications and get into the world’s greatest b-schools.
Neel Patil goes to Kellogg this fall. He shares the inspiring story of how he improved his profile and secured two elite MBA admits, together with one from an M7 enterprise faculty.
This can be a transcript from our YouTube channel, during which Neel’s mentor and our admissions head Manish Gupta (MG) interviews him. In case you want watching the video, right here’s the hyperlink: My GMAT profile constructing and MBA software expertise
GMAT profile constructing plan & MBA software technique
This strategy received me into Kellogg and NYU Stern
by Neel Patil
MG: For our readers’ profit, give us a fast profile overview: the place did you research, the place did you’re employed, what number of years of expertise do you’ve, what’s your GMAT rating?
Neel: I did my engineering from IIT Madras and graduated in 2020. I began as a enterprise analyst at Axis Financial institution and at present I’m a lead analyst and it’s been about 3 and half years now.
My GMAT rating is 760 and my profile primarily entails working with lots of people, primarily the operations workforce, gross sales workforce and varied different groups to see how we will facilitate their work, primarily based on the information we’ve.
MG: Let’s flip the clock again to the time while you had been already performed along with your GMAT and also you had two years of expertise and also you began fascinated about an MBA. Why did you intend for an MBA at that time of time and what was your thought course of at that stage?
Neel: By that point, I had been working for nearly two years. I used to be having fun with my work. What I loved about it was it was analytical in nature; it was not purely technical – what I felt was okay.
I used to be already main a small workforce by then however I wished one thing with a much bigger scope, working with plenty of completely different folks. As a result of we labored with varied groups, my initiatives diversified.
However I wished a much bigger variation of what I did and one thing extra international.
So, that’s why I felt that at that time of time, I had realized what I wanted to study in that function and I wished to develop as effectively. So, I assumed that an MBA made excellent sense.
MG: That’s the time, we began interacting and that’s while you took our ‘Profile Builder’ service. So, assist us perceive what made you concentrate on that?
Neel: I assume like everybody, I used to be researching my choices on the web: in regards to the faculties, what they stand for and the way they might match into my plans.
Throughout my search, whereas wanting by the articles and video experiences of scholars and alumni, I got here throughout MBA Crystal Ball articles that had been written by you or Sameer.
At that time, I felt the necessity to communicate to somebody, in order that’s how I reached out to you. I had already made up my thoughts that I wished to use that yr itself – in 2022. In case you keep in mind – we had a dialogue at the moment concerning what my probabilities had been and what faculties I ought to have a look at.
MG: How did the Profile Builder rework the best way you had been pondering? Are you able to inform us a number of particular steps you took after that? That’s the time you determined that you just’ll wait for one more yr if no more. Discuss us by in regards to the particular steps you took after that dialogue to reinforce your profile.
Neel: First, I’ll get into why I took the ‘Profile Builder’ package deal as an alternative of the ‘MBA MAP’ or going for a 5-school or 4-school package deal for essay-editing service.
Through the dialogue, we had a whole deep dive into my profile. We mentioned about what I did throughout my school together with all my extracurriculars put up that. My expertise was simply two years and the typical tends to be round 5 years for all of the US B-schools and even increased for B-schools in Europe.
I keep in mind the suggestions that the possibilities at that time of time wouldn’t be nice because the work expertise itself was one and half to 2 years; we wouldn’t have explored as a lot as enterprise faculties anticipate us to.
Additionally, in regards to the exterior of the work profile, throughout my school, I had some respectable extracurriculars and there have been issues I used to be fascinated about, however there wasn’t any continuity to that after I began working.
So, we determined that one of the best strategy could be to attend for a yr and work on my total profile – not solely taking over duties at work but in addition proceed what I used to be fascinated about throughout my school.
I had labored with Nirman – a preincubation cell involving working with startups to assist them get incubated – go from concept to incubation part. I felt these are the issues I used to be actually fascinated about, however I had not continued any of that.
Since enterprise faculties search for a holistic profile, I felt that it made sense ready for 1-2 years relatively than making use of instantly. Throughout this time, I assumed I’ll work on enhancing myself.
I additionally keep in mind we had this dialogue: my opinion was that there was no hurt in making use of even when I didn’t get chosen that yr; I assumed it might give me some expertise with purposes.
However you informed me that if I utilized and I didn’t get in, the onus of proving it to the faculties that I’ve had important jumps and my profile had modified considerably could be on me.
So if it was so clear that my profile wanted enchancment, I assumed after I’ll be prepared, I’ll give it my greatest.
Within the ‘Profile Builder’ package deal, primarily based on our discussions, there have been particular areas of enchancment wanted in my work: it needed to be extra impactful. Both the work needed to be earth-shattering or the function I used to be in needed to be an earth-shattering one.
One other space that I needed to construct upon was the extracurriculars. Effectively, let’s not simply say extracurriculars because it looks as if we’re simply ticking them off the field.
So, I targeted on taking up extra work and went past what my job description was – speaking to extra folks, extra stakeholders and being extra proactive. On the work entrance, I received promoted shortly after.
The opposite factor was on the extracurriculars facet – I used to be exploring choices like Toast Masters or one thing tangible. I used to be additionally contemplating if there was any means I might be in contact with the startup group from our college or another startup group generally.
The Alumni Affiliation of our IIT Madras held one of many occasions known as Entrepreneurs Adda. I keep in mind as a result of that they had invited a VC and I used to be blown away by the best way he thought. I felt that they had been bringing in actually superb folks and I wished to be part of this and assist folks with their startups.
I talked to the committee members and talked about about my comparable expertise in school. They introduced me on board and since then, I’ve organized occasions which can be often attended by 50-60, at occasions over 200 folks as effectively.
That was a completely enjoyable expertise and ultimately I turned a co-chair of the committee which was an enormous deal. I wished one thing tangible and this occurred unexpectedly and I loved doing this a lot. These initiatives thrive on volunteers, so more often than not, it’s nearly elevating your hand and saying that you just’re accessible.
MG: You labored on this very diligently for one yr, proper? So, Might’23 is while you determined, ‘That is after I wish to apply’. Discuss to us about what your thought course of was. Did you continue to have any kind of hesitation or issues about your candidature while you determined to make the leap?
Neel: By Might 2023, I used to be already in a significantly better place than what I used to be the yr earlier than. I used to be actually blissful that the percentages had elevated however I didn’t know if that was adequate; I used to be undecided about what precisely the admissions committee search for. Although there are a lot of opinions on-line, no one has a transparent goal view.
That’s after I reached out to you and we had a dialogue that the possibilities had been good that yr whereas ready for a yr extra would enhance the possibilities much more.
MG: It was your conviction that drove this ultimately. I do know you probably did plenty of analysis. Are you able to give us a glimpse into the highest 2-3 stuff you assume folks ought to do for certain, that you just actually benefited from, by way of the analysis and pondering by on this course of?
Initially, after I was researching all the faculties, even throughout my GMAT part, which was in 2021 or in the beginning of 2022, M7 had a sure attract to them.
I wished to go to an M7 faculty to have the ability to expertise this, however you could need to stability between being formidable and being sensible.
So I narrowed it all the way down to the highest 10 -12 faculties with a combination of some M7 and non M7.
I analyzed all these faculties primarily based on a number of parameters together with how effectively they match by way of my dream and secondly how simple it might be to get an admit primarily based on my profile. Since I come from a banking background, mainly an analytical function and I’ve a great GMAT rating, I assumed I’ll have a look at faculties that worth the GMAT rating a bit of extra.
There have been different sensible elements like the college location – how far it’s from the large hubs like New York or Chicago or San Francisco. Based mostly on that, I made a cluster – those which can be actually enticing to me and that might in all probability could be on the better facet than these which can be enticing to me however in all probability are on the tougher facet.
MG: You informed me that you’d doc all of the conversations you had with alumni and the way that was helpful in your essay part. That’s a fairly intensive work that you just did. So, coming to our engagement, had been there any particular issues that you just nonetheless keep in mind – something vivid that you just thought was possibly an ‘aha’ second that was the spotlight of our engagement once we labored collectively?
Neel: With MCB, you keep in mind the primary evaluation of the essay after I put every little thing into writing. I had a number of faculties proper, then we determined which faculty we work on first after which go on selecting the faculties later.
So, after I despatched within the first draft and it was already after I had put in every little thing, I received a revert again from you saying that it was practically abysmal that would use plenty of work.
You had been fairly frank with me however that was surprising at first.
However then, I assumed that if that’s the case, the ultimate output could be significantly better than the place I used to be. For me that was an ‘aha’ second.
MG: Are you able to inform our viewers the place you bought admits from and what did you decide?
Neel: Whereas I received admits from Kellogg and NYU Stern, I received waitlisted at Sales space and Darden. For me, it was a call about pursuing the wait checklist at Sales space and Darden plus simply earlier than the acceptance deadline, making a selection about Kellogg. I made a decision to go along with Kellogg.
Consulting and tech are each actually enticing to me and primarily based on the location statistics and recruitment, Kellogg tends to do barely higher than NYU Stern in each these elements.
So, despite the truth that New Yyork is the monetary Hub, Kellogg outweighed that. Chicago can also be fairly a great place with regards to corporations, employers, in order that’s why I went with Kellogg. One other essential facet was the preliminary want I had about M7, in order that additionally performed in.
MG: Given the present American placement state of affairs, do you’ve any issues? What sort of thought are you going into this with?
Neel: One of many issues is: I assumed, ought to I wait, ought to I defer – I had really thought-about that as effectively. One of many causes I wished to do that at that time was I felt that this was the time to speed up.
I’m younger. I’m in my 20s. I’m actually prepared to provide it my greatest.
Although there’s a slight concern in regards to the market, particularly within the tech house as a result of it’s all closely depending on the mother or father financial system itself, however I’m hopeful that Kellogg could be one of many least affected.
Secondly, Kellogg has a fantastic emphasis on team-based tradition. It has a very robust assist system for that as effectively, in order that places me relaxed.
MG: As an finish notice, in case you had been to counsel 2-3 prime issues each candidate coming from a banking or a tech house ought to do, what would they be?
Neel: I feel these are the highest 3 factors that I’ve carried in inside myself which have helped me by this course of – this is able to apply to everybody by this software course of – not simply these within the banking house.
Your entire software course of would contain plenty of self-reflection as every faculty would have completely different essays. Some faculty might ask you about your previous whereas one other might have questions on your future plans, others might ask you the place you might be proper now and what your values are.
I imply they cowl complete panorama of what it means to be a human, so there will likely be plenty of self-reflection, particularly in case you’re making use of to plenty of faculties.
Through the course of, there’ll be these damaging phases the place you’ve self-doubt and while you are likely to query your self: regardless of all this, will I get by or not?
I’d say attempt to maintain such ideas to a minimal or attempt to remove them if doable as a result of they don’t serve any function in anyway and so they can hinder you throughout your efforts.
The purposes themselves are fairly exhaustive; so you actually have to be in the fitting mind-set so that you just don’t find yourself making errors – that is one key takeaway.
The second essential factor I’d say – use as many instruments as doable to maintain issues structured; you’ll be utilizing this lots throughout the purposes course of, so don’t carry every little thing in your head.
The third one could be – communicate to lots of people. That you must attain out to lots of people as lower than half of them will reply again.
Once more, since they might be in a special time zone, you’ll have to attach throughout odd hours like 1:00 am, 2:00 am or 3:00 am. I keep in mind proper after I spoke at 3 am with one of many alumni, I made some modifications primarily based on the suggestions I obtained.
Once you’re chatting with alumni, simply just be sure you are very intentional about what you’ll ask.
If an individual has served as a VP of a sure membership, then ask them particular questions on that membership and what your plans are for that membership and if that’s possible or not.
MG: Neel, thanks for sharing your journey with our viewers. We’ll be watching your journey to Kellogg and past! All one of the best!
Neel: Thanks, MG!
We hope you discovered this interview useful.
At MBA Crystal Ball we’ve helped many candidates like Neel get into the elite enterprise faculties, typically with scholarships.
Attain out in case you’re in search of skilled assist to construct your GMAT profile and along with your MBA purposes: information@mbacrystalball.com
Additionally take a look at the companies Neel talks about within the video:
– GMAT MBA Profile Constructing
– MBA Utility Consulting